Apparatus for padding undercollars



Nov. 10, 1964 P. c. FEFFER ETAL APPARATUS FOR PADDING UNDERCOLLARS 13Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 16, 1961 INVENTORS PHILIP C. FEFFER ALBERT J.HASSELBACH LOUIS NATALE ,@m%Ma/ ATTORNEYS Nov. 10, 1964 P. c. FEFFERETAL 3,156,202

APPARATUS FOR PADDING UNDERCOLLARS Filed Feb. 16, 1961 13 Sheets-Sheet 2mun" INVENTORS PHILIP C. FEFFER ALBERT J.HASSELBACH LOU IS NAT ALEATTORNEY 5 Nov. 10, 1964 Filed Feb. 16, 1961 P. C. FEFFER ETAL APPARATUSFOR PADDING UNDERCOLLARS 13 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS PHILIP C. FEFFERALBERT J.HASSELBACH LOUIS NATAL E BYWQMW ATTORNEYS Nov. 10, 1964 P. c.FEFFER ETAL 3,156,202

APPARATUS FOR PADDING UNDERCOLLARS Filed Feb. 16, 1961 13 Sheets-Sheet 4INVENTORS PHILIP C. FEFFER ALBERT J. HASSELBACH LOU IS NATALE BY wywATTORNEYS Nov. 10, 1964 P. c. FEFFER ETAL 3,

APPARATUS FOR PADDING UNDERCOLLARS Filed Feb. 16, 1961 13 Sheets-Sheet 5INVENTORS PHILIP C.FEFFER ALBERT J.HA$$ELBACH LOUIS NATALE ATTORNEY 3Nov. 10, 1964 P. c. FEFFER ETAL 3,156,202

APPARATUS FOR PADDING UNDERCOLLARS Filed Feb. 16, 1961 13 Sheets-Sheet sINVENTORS PHILIP C.FEFFER ALBERT J.,HASSELBACH LOUIS NATALE ATTORNEYSNov. 10, 1964 P. c. FEFFER ETAL 3,156,202

APPARATUS FOR PADDING UNDERCOLLARS Filed Feb. 16, 1961 13 Sheets-Sheet 7ENTORS w 2 PHILIIP on: FFER ALBERT J. HASSELBACH LOUIS NATALE BY W n MMATTORNEYS P. C. FEFFER ETAL APPARATUS FOR PADDING UNDERCOLLARS Nov. 10,1964 13 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Feb. 16, 1961 INVENTORS PHILIP C.FEFFERALBERT J.HASSELBACH LOUIS NATALE Wt fl/F/ Max) ATTORNEYS Nov. 10, 1964P. c. FEFFER ETAL 3,156,202

APPARATUS FOR PADDING UNDERCOLLARS Filed Feb. 16, 1961 1a Sheets-Sheet 9INVENTORS PHILIP c. FEFFER ALBERT J. HASSELBACH LOUIS NATALE BY fl/lfwwuATTORNEYS Nov. 10, 1964 P. c. FEFFER ETAL 3,156,202

APPARATUS FOR PADDING UNDERCOLLARS Filed Feb. 16, 1961 13 Sheets-Sheet 10 8 INVENTORS PHILIP 0. FE FFE R ALBE RT J. HASSELBACH LOUIS NATALEATTORNEYS FIGJI.

Nov. 10, 1964 P. c. FEFFER ETAL APPARATUS FOR PADDING UNDERCOLLARS FiledFeb. 16, 1961 13 Sheets-Sheet ll INVENTORS PHILIP c. FE FFER ALBERT J.HASSELBACH LOUIS NATALE ATTORNEYS Nov. 10, 1964 P. c. F'EFFER ETAL3,156,202

APPARATUS FOR PADDING UNDERCOLLARS Filed Feb. 16, 1961 1a Sheets-Sheet12 FIGJ4.

FIGJ7A PHILIP C. FEFFER ALBERT J. HASSELBACH LOUIS NATALE ATTORNEY5STJ/WI/YG .SW/TC/Y INVENTORS United States Patent "ice APPARATUS FORPADDING UNDERCOLLARS Philip C. Fetter, Sparks, Albert J. Hasselhach,Baltimore,

and Louis Natale, Baltimore County, Md, assignors to L. Greif & Bria,Nashville, Tenn, a corporation of Tennessee Filedlieh. 16, 1961, Ser.No. 89,760 Claims. (Cl..112--2) The present invention relates to anapparatus used in combination with a blind stitch sewing machine forpadding a canvas to an undercollar fabric. Canvas is the term given bythe trade to the stiii backing material which is padded to theundercollar. The undercollar isthat portion of a garment which is placedunder the cloth top collar. The undercollar is comprised of a piece ofcloth material, to which a canvas is padded to serve as a stiffenmg.

The present manner of padding undercollars is performed on a blindstitch sewing machine which is under the control of an operator. Theoperator must first select the piece of cloth and canvas, place them insuperimposed relationship in proper relative position to each other andmanually guide the two pieces through the sewing machine in successivepasses until the desired number of rows of stitches have been applied totheundercollar. In performing this operation, a considerable amount oftime is expended and in addition, the application of the stitches is notvery accurate. varying distance between eachof the rows of stitches andme rows may not be in parallel relationship to each other.

The collar padding apparatus as described herein overcomes the abovedisadvantages by performing the padding operations automatically. Thatis, the operator will only have to place the undercollar fabric andcanvas in superimposed relation in the machine and initiate the operation thereof, and subsequent padding will be carried outautomatically.

Additionally, the size of the canvas and undercollar material can bereduced over that which is normally used because of the accuracywith'which the rows of stitches are applied through the use of theapparatus as disclosed in the present invention.

An object of. the invention is a collar padding apparatus which willperform padding operations with relatively little reliance on theoperator.

Another object of the invention is a collar padding apparatus whichwillpad .undercollars with a high degree of accuracy.

Another object of the invention is a collar padding apparatus which willincrease the production of padded undercollars.

Another object of the invention is a collar paddin apparatus which isrelativeiysimple to operate and requires no special skill on the part ofthe operator.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become readilyapparent by referring to the following description when taken with theaccompanying drawings.

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the undercollar apparatus shown in theload-unloaded position; I

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view or" the base assembly and themovable support for the work supporting carriage with the carriage plateand upper cylinder assembly removed; 7

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevation view illustrating indetail the relationship between the cam track and the movable supportand cam disc;

FIGURE 4 is an end view of the collar padding apparatus as shown inFIGURE 1, with the sewing machine omitted for clarity;

FIGURE 5 is a front elevation of the apparatus in its In other. words,there may be a rollers engaging the underside of cam track 32.

3,156,202 Patented Nov. 10, 1964 load-unload position, with the sewingmachine omitted for clarity;

FIGURE 6 is a plan view of the undercollar padding apparatus movingtoward the sewing machine whereby a work piece will be placed in theproper position for the application of a row of stitches;

FIGURE 7 is a plan view showing the position of the carriage after onerow of stitches has. been sewn into the undercollar;

FIGURE 8 shows an apparatus for padding undercollars illustrating aslightly different construction;

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged fragmentary view of FIG- URE 8 showing in detailone of the workpiece clamps and the actuating mechanism therefor;

FIGURE 10 is a plan view of the collar padding apparatus shown inperspective in FIGURE 8;

FIGURE 11 is a plan view of the apparatus after a row of stitches hasbeen applied to an undercollar assembly and the carriage is beingreturned to a starting position; 7

FIGURE 12 is an enlarged fragmetary View of the sewing machine head anda portion of the control switches attached to the sewing machine;

FIGURE 13 is a detailed view of the undercollar ejecting means and theoperating mechanism therefore;

FIGURE 14 is a plan view of the stiffening member or canvas forming partof the undercollar assembly;

FIGURE 15 is a plan view of the assembled undercollar; L

FIGURE 16 is a plan view of the bottom side of the assembled undercollarhaving been stitched on the apparatus in accordance with the teaching ofthe invention;

FIGURE 17A diagrammatically illustratesthe actuation of the clamp meansand the initial movement of the carriage operating mechanism;

FIGURE 17B illustrates diagrammatically the work supporting carriageshown in dotted lines having been moved to place the workpiece in theproper position on the sewing machine;

FIGURE 17C illustrates the position of the work supporting carriageafter arow of stitches has been applied to the undercollar assembly;

FIGURE 18A is a 'diagrammatical view showing the position of thecarriage after the last row of stitches has been applied to theundercollar assembly; and

FIGURE 18B is a diagrammatical'view of the clamp operating means and ofthe eject plate whereby the work piece is ejected from the worksupporting carriage.

Referring to FIGURE 1 there is shown a pair of plates 10 and 12 securedin spaced relation to a table 14. Mounted on plates It and 12 are railmembers 16 and 18. The rail members constitute tracks upon which asupport plate 20 is adapted to be moved by suitable means laterdescribed. The support plate is provided at one end with a roller 22which rides on rail member 16. At the opposite end of plate 20 andsecured to the underside thereof is a guide member 23, having an openingtherethrough. The guide member 23 cooperates with a rod 24 secured torail member 18. The cooperation between the guide member 23 and rod 24prevents displacement of the support plate 20 during movement along railmembers 16 and 18.

Extending upwardly from plate 20 is a vertical member 26 to which isattached anti-friction rollers 28 and 3t! engaging the upperface of acurved cam track 32 to which is secured a work supporting carriage 3d.

Secured to plate 2%) is a support member 36 on which is mountedanti-friction rollers 38 and 40 shown best in FIGURE 2 engaging the backface of cam track 32 and rollers 42 and 44 which engage the front faceof the cam track. Also mounted on support 36 are anti-friction The ascarriage 34 which is secured to cam track 32 is supported in thehorizontal plane by the engagement of the antifriction rollers with thecam track and a support member engaging the underside of the worksupportin carriage, the details of which are later described.

The work supporting carriage 34 has pivotally mounted thereon aworkpiece clamp 46 biased closed by springs 48 and St) on rod 52 andunder which is held a workpiece 47. Identical springs (not shown) aresecured to the opposite end of rod 52 in the same manner. The workpieceis supported in a horizontal position on an eject plate 49 adjacent thework supporting carriage 34 before it is moved onto the work table ofthe sewing machine 51. The clamp 46 has a rearwardly extending portion54 against which clamp operating lever 56 comes in contact. The clampoperating lever 56 is pivotally attached to plate 58 secured to railmember 16, although other suitable mounting means may be provided.Actuating means for clamp operating lever 56 is also secured to plate 58as well as interlock switches, the function of which will be laterdescribed in more detail.

Vertical members 60 and 62 are secured to rail mem bers 16 and 18 andhave attached thereto support plates 64 and 66. Supported on plates 64and 65 is anassembly comprising a pair of rails 63 and 7t to which isattached a fiuid cylinder 72. A piston rod '74 which is adapted to beextended and retracted from fluid cylinder 72 has attached to its end aplate member 76 having rollers '78 and 8t? thereon. Plate member 76 alsoactuates switch 81 when the piston rod 74 has been fully extended fromits associated cylinder 72. The function of switch 31 will belaterdescribed in more detail. The rollers ride on rail members 68 and 70when the piston rod 74 is extended and retracted from the cylinder 72.Attached to plate member 76 secured to the end of piston rod 74 is a cam82 which coacts with a cam follower 84 secured to a support bracket 86on one end of the cam track 32 and to the underside thereof a shortdistance from the opposite end is secured a second cam follower 88 thatcooperates with a cam groove Qt) defined by a pair of plates 92 and 94secured to rail member 13.

In FIGURE 2 the plate 26 is shown supported on rail members 16 and 18 inthe position it occupies when the apparatus is in the load-unload stageof operation. Secured to rail member 16 is a switch 81 against whichplate 20 comes in contact when a workpiece is placed in its properposition in the sewing machine for the first row of stitches. Whenactuated by plate 20 switch 81 affects the stopping of the driving meansfor the support 20 and its associated work supporting carriage 34.

Secured to plate member 20 is a brace 96 carrying a rack 98. The rack 98meshes with pinion 10d fixed on shaft 102. Also fixed on shaft 102 is acam disc 184. The shaft 102 is rotatably mounted in plate 12 which formspart of the base of the apparatus. As the support plate 20 moves thecarriage to the proper position in relation to the sewing machine, therack 98 meshing with pinion rotates the cam disc 104. On the peripheryof the disc there is provided a plurality of detents which cooperatewith a roller 105 mounted on actuating means for switch 106. With camfollower 88 in the position shown the movable support 20 and thecarriage not shown has not been moved from its load-unload position.There is also shown secured to the brace 96, a brake 108 which whenactuated contacts the back edge of cam track 32.

Referring to FIGURES 2 and 3, there is shown at 105 the roller which isnow in a pocket 104 in the disc 1134. The shaft 102 has mounted uponitdisc 194, which carries the pockets 104' as shown in FIGURES 2 and 3.Mounted above and on the shaft 1&2 is the pinion res and plate or brace114, which holds the shaft 102 in alignment with the rack 98 shown inFIGURE 3.

In FIGURE 3 there is shown the relative position of rail members 16 and18 with respect to the base. Also shown in the drawing are rollers 110and 112 which are secured to support 36. Mounted on support plate 20,the rollers 110 and 112 engage the underside of cam track 32. Also shownis the guide member 23 which cooperates with the rod 24 secured to rail18. The shaft 102 on which pinion 1% and cam disc iii-t is fixed isshown rotatably mounted at one end of base plate 1@ and at the other inplate 114.

As shown in FIGURE 4, the end of the work supporting carriage 34 towhich clamp 46 is pivotally secured is shown adjacent the eject plate4-9 which is pivotally mounted on vertical support assembly 116 which ismounted on the table 14 as shown. The eject plate 49 also serves as asupport and alignment means for positioning and locating the superposedundercollar assembly in the clamp 4-5. Secured to the underside of table14 is the operating mechanism 113 which moves the support plates onwhich carriage 34 is mounted. The mechanism 118 is a commerciallyavailable unit, marketed under the trade name Hydrocheck, and is shownby way of example as other suitable means for moving the support may beused. Hydrocheck is comprised of a pair of cylinders I20, 122, eachhaving an associated piston within the cylinder and a piston rod securedthereto. Piston rods 124 and 126 are operatively connected together by aplate 128. A link member 136 is secured at one end to the piston rod 124and at its other end to the movable plate 2d on which the carriage 34 isoperatively mounted. Movement of the piston rods 12d and 126 istransmitted through the link 130 to cause movement of the support plate2t) and carriage 34 along the rail members 16 and 1S and guide rod 24.The operating means 132 for the clamp actuating lever 56 is shown indotted lines secured to the plate 58. The operating means 132 for theclamp actuating lever 56 is shown as being an air cylinder; althoughother suitable means may be used to perform the same function.

Also secured to plate 58 are a pair of switches as previously mentioned,which detects the position of the clamp actuating lever 56. In theposition shown the clamp 46 is closed and the operating lever 56 is inengagement with the actuating means of switches 134, indicating thatclamp 46 is closed. When the clamp operating lever 56 is pivoted aboutshaft 136 the end opposite that, which contacts plate 54, comes intocontact with the switch operating means associated with switch 138. Thiswill indicate that the clamp is in an open position. Also shown isswitch 146 secured to the fluid cylinder assembly and actuated by plate76 attached to the end of piston rod 74. Switch 140 is operativelyconnected to the clutch actuating mechanism associated with the sewingmachine, and is also shown in FIGURES 1 and 5.

In FIGURE 5 the position of the eject mechanism is shown with respect tothe base assembly on table 14. The table 14 is provided with an opening141 in which the cylinder assembly 118 is situated. Secured to theunderside of the cam track 32 is a cam member 142. When the carriageassembly reaches the end of its travel with respect to the support plate249, after a row of stitches has been sewed in the undercollar, the cammember 1 42 comes in contact with, and actuates switch 145 mounted onsupport plate 146 secured to rail member 16. The switch 145 as one ofits functions, stops the sewing machine when it is actuated by cam 142.The switch is adjustable bodily with respect to support 1% whereby thelength of a row of stitches can be varied, depending on the size of thework-piece to which the stitches will be applied. A Vernier mechanism,not shown, is used to adjust the switch 145 relative to support 146.Also shown in FIGURE 5 are rollers 143 and 144 engaging the front faceof cam track 32. To give added support to carriage 34 a brace 148 issecured to the movable plate 20 at one end, and a roller carried at theother end is in contact with the underside of the work supportingcarriage 34.

Referring to FIGURE 6 the support 24) has moved the carriage 34 towardthe sewing machine 51. The cam follower 88 attached to the end of camtrack 32 has moved along a portion of the cam groove 99 defined byplates 92 and 94. Continued movement of the support Ztltoward the sewingmachine will cause the cam follower 83 to continue in the cam track 90until it reaches the end of the portion of the track defined by plate$2. When the cam follower 88 reaches this position the cam follower 84secured to the opposite end of cam track 32 comes in contact with cam82." The cooperation between cam follower 34 and cam 32 will cause thecam follower 88 to move along the face portion 156 of plate 5 2, tobring the carriage 34 supporting the workpiece to the position adjacentthe sewing machine as shown by the dotted lines. moving the workpiece toits proper position relative to the sewing machine 51, the piston rod'74 is being retracted into the cylinder 72 carrying with it cam 82.When this occurs cam 82 moves out of contact with cam follower 34. Whenthe carriage reaches its dotted line position, the plate 26 comes incontact with and actuates switch 8&9, which eiiects the stopping of the.

mechanism 118 that moves the carriage assembly.

As shown in FIGURE 7 the carriage 34 has been moved by the sewing actionof the sewing machine drawing the undercollar between the foot and theneedle. Switch 145 has been actuated bycam 142 secured to the undersideof cam track 32. When this occurs, the sewing machine stops, aspreviously mentioned, the presser foot of the sewing machine opens andthe mechanism 118 secured to support causes the carriage to move awayfrom the sewing machine to position it at the proper point for theapplication of a second row of stitches.

During the movement of the support it away from the.

sewing machine, the piston rod 74 is extended from the cylinder '72. Thecam 82 engages the cam follower 84 on the end of camtrack 32 and movesthe carriage 34 back to a start position. The carriage is moved throughan arcuate path due to the cooperation of thecurved configuration of thetrack 32 and its coaction with'the rollers engaging the faces thereof.

Referring to FIGURE 3 a modified work supporting carriage 1% is shownsecured to a cam track 152 which is guided by rollers in the same manneras the cam track 32 as shown in FIGURE 1. The cam track 152- has thesame configuration whereby the work piece is moved through the sewingmachine in an arcuate path. A work piece clamping means is comprised ofa pair of pivoted plate members 154 and 156 under which the assembly ofundercollar and canvas areplaced and held. The clamping plate membersare pivoted by clamp actuating means 158 and 160 when the carriage 15%}Bin the load-unload position. The mechanism for moving the carriagewhereby the work piece is brought into operative engagement with thesewing machine is the same as that shown in FIGURE 4 and indicated bythe number 118. The movement of the work supporting carriage 150 for theproper placement of the work piece on the presser foot of the sewingmachine is accomplished somewhat differently. A substantially V-shapedcam 16?. is secured to a support 164 mounted on table 14. Thecam track152 has at its extreme end a cam follower 166 in the form of a rollerwhich cooperates with the face of earn 162. The cam follower 166 is heldin contact with the face of cam 162 by the cooperation of a cam follower163 attached to supporting bracket 170, which is secured to the end ofcam track 152, and a cam 172 which is secured to plate 174 connected topiston rod 175 forming part of cylinder assembly 178. The cylinderassembly The sewing machine has attached to the head portion a guide bar180 under which the workpiece'will pass when it is moved into sewingengagement by the work supporting carriages 150. Adjacent the worksupporting carriage 154 is a work piece ejecting mechanism 182 whichafter all of the sewing operations have been completed and clamp members154. and 156 have been moved I Y to an open position ejects the workpiece from the work As the carriage 34 is supporting carriage 150.

Also shown in FIGURE 8 is a portion of the box 184- which houses thecontrol system. One of the components of the system is a stepping switch(not shown) which is available commercially and is particularly suitedto an operation having sequential steps. The switch is provided withcontacts which complete circuits to the various switches positioned onthe-apparatus and which will be described in more detail when anexplanation of the operation of the apparatus is given.

In FIGURE 9 there is shown in the drawing one of the work piece clampingmembers 156 connected by supporting members to a rotatable shaft 188part of which extends through bearing block 190 secured to cam track152. the portion of the shaft 188 which extends through the bearingblock 190 enters an opening in a rotatable socket 192 socket is fixed toa shaft upon which pinion 194 is also fixed. The pinion is driven by arack 196 actuated by air cylinder 198. An interlock switch 2% is shownmounted adjacent the clamp actuating mechanism. The

178 as shown, is the same type of unit as number 118 in operating meansfor the switch is positioned so that the rack 196, when moved by the aircylinder 198, will actuate the switch. The function of this switch is toindicate the p sition of the workpiece clamping plate 156, i.e., whetherit is open or closed. Also the switch 200 is interlocked with theejecting mechanism operating means in such a manner as. to prevent theactuation of the eject means when the workpiece clamping plate isclosed. Also shown is a switch 202 which is actuated byplate 174engaging the switch actuating means when the piston rod 176 is retractedinto its associated cylinder. The function of switch 262 is that of aninterlock which will prevent actuation of the sewing machine until thepiston rod 176.has been fully retracted into its cylinder. Shown in moredetail is the V-shape cam 162 which assists in guiding the worksupporting carriage to. its proper position adjacent the sewing machinewhen'the carriage support moves the carriage.

In FIGURE 10 the apparatus shown in the load-unload position having hadan undercollar assembly 204 positioned on the work supporting carriage15Gfand held by clamping plates 154 and 156. The clamping plates havebeen moved to their closed position by their associated operatingmechanisms I58 and 160. The apparatus as shown has not yet starteditsmovement to place the workpiece in sewing engagement with the sewingmachine 2%.

In FIGURE 11 as shown, the apparatus has carried the undercollarassembly through the sewing machine whereby a row of stitches has beenapplied. In the position shown the carriage has been partially returnedto its start position by the cam 172 shown in dotted lines, cooperatingwith cam follower 168, secured to the end of cam track 152. The pistonrod 176 to which the cam 1'72 is attached has only been partiallyextended from its associated cylinder to bring the cam 172 to the dottedline position. Shown in solid lines the cam 172 and piston rod 176 hasreached a fully extended position. When the cam 172 has reached theposition as shown in solid lines, it contacts switch 208 which isconnected through appropriate circuitry to the stepping switch housed inthe control panel 184. This will advance the stepping switch oneposition and then the piston rod will be retracted within the cylindercarrying cam 172 with it until it reaches a fully retracted positionwhereby plate 174 actuates switch 292 which is an interlock connected tothe clutch control for the sewing machine.

When the carriage isin its load-unload position In FIGURE 12 theposition of the workpiece guide 130 is shown attached to a work table210 secured to the sewing machine. The sewing machine used incombination with the collar padding apparatus is a commercial machinemanufactured by the Lewis Invisible Stitch Machine Company, and similarto the blind stitch sewing machine in Mueller et a1. Patent No.2,632,416, dated March 24, 1953, and assigned to the above-mentionedcompany.

As shown the sewing machine is provided with the customary needleassembly 212 which is the type commonly used with a blind stitch sewingmachine. Also shown secured to the transversely extending portion of thework table support 214 is part of the control means 216 for theapparatus,

As shown in FIGURE 13, the ejecting means comprises an ejecting plate 49pivotally secured to the vertical sup port 116 which is mounted on thetable 14. The eject plate 49 is spring biased in a horizontal positionby spring 218. The actuating means to pivot eject plate 49 is comprisedof an air cylinder 22%, a rack 222, and a pinion 224 is moved androtates the pinion 224 with which it meshes. The pinion 224 is fixed onrotatable shaft 226 which is secured to the underside of eject plate 49so that when pinion 224 is rotated the eject plate will be moved fromits normal horizontal position to a substantially vertical ejectposition. Mounted on plate 2228 secured to the vertical member 116 isaswitch 230 which is connected by appropriate circuitry to the steppingswitch in the control panel 184. The function of switch 230 will beexplained in detail during the description of operation.

Shown in FIGURE 14 is the stiffening member or canvas 232 which is anopen weaved material formed of rather coarse textile threads.

As shown in FIGURE 15, the stiffening or canvas 232 has laid thereon theundercollar material 234- forming an undercollar assembly.

In FIGURE 16, there is illustrated the bottom side of the undercollarassembly showing the stiffening or canvas 232 and the desired number ofrows of stitches 236 which have been applied through the canvas 232 andpart way through the undercollar material 234.

Diagrammatically shown in FIGURE 17A is the actuation of the operatingmeans 132 for the clamp actuating lever. Also shown is the operatingmechanism 118 which moves the support plate on which the work supportingcarriage is movably mounted, the cylinder 72 which causes extension andretraction of cam 82 and the control box 184 which houses the steppingswitch previously mentioned. Upon actuation of the starting switch thestepping switch housed in control box 184 is advanced one step wherebythe operating means for the clamp actuating lever is actuated, causingthe clamp to close on the workpiece. Almost simultaneously, themechanism 118 which moves the work supporting carriage toward the sewingmachine is actuated and the cam 82 is retracted toward the cylinder 72.The rate of movement of the cam 82 is somewhat less than the rate oftravel imparted to the work supporting table by the operating mechanism118.

The cam 82 is not retracted until after the work supporting tablereaches its stop position at which time the clutch mechanism of thesewing machine is caused to be engaged.

FIGURE 17B illustrates the carriage 34 having moved to its properposition in relation to the sewing machine 51 whereby the workpiece isplaced in position to have a row of stitches applied thereto. When thecarriage reaches this position, the support plate 2.0 on which thecarriage is mounted, actuates switch 80 which advances the steppingswitch one step and a signal is carried to the actuating means 118 whichcauses it to stop. When the undercollar assembly has been placed on thesewing machine, the presser foot on the sewing machine closes.

Almost simultaneously with the closing of the presser foot, the cam 82reaches its fully retracted position and actuates interlock switch 202connected to the clutch operating mechanism of the sewing machine.

Upon actuation, the sewing machine applies a row of stitches to theassembled undercollar which is drawn through the machine by the stitchapplying action thereof. Due to the curved configuration of the camtrack 32 and its cooperation with the rollers mounted on their relatedsupports on support plate 20, the undercollar assembly is guided throughthe sewing machine in an arcuate path.

Referring to FIGURE 17C there is diagrammatically shown the position ofthe work supporting carriage 34 after having been moved with theundercollar assembly through the sewing machine which has applied onerow of stitches to the undercollar. When the carriage reaches the dottedline position, the cam 142 secured to the underside of cam track 32actuates switch 144. When this occurs, the stepping switch housed in thecontrol box 184 is advanced one step whereby a signal is sent to theoperating means for the sewing machine to cause it to stop. When thesewing machine stops, the presser foot associated therewith opens andreleases the undercollar assembly. A signal is sent to the operatingmechanism 118 which moves the support 20 and work supporting carriage 34in a direction away from the sewing machine. At the same time, a signalis transmitted to the operating means for cylinder 72, whereby the cam82 attached to the piston rod 74 is moved toward its extended position.During the movementof support 20 and carriage 34-, in a direction awayfrom the sewing machine, the rack 98 associated with the support plate20 meshes with and rotates pinion 1% whereby cam disc 164 is rotated.Switch 1% is associated with, and has actuating means cooperativelyengaging the periphery of the cam disc. As previously mentioned, the camdisc has a plurality of detents situated in its periphery. When theactuating member for switch 106 drops into the detent next to that inwhich it is presently situated, the switch 106 causes the steppingswitch to advance one step, whereby a signal is transmitted to thecarriage operating mechanism 118 to stop same. The cam 82 reaches itsfully extended position and actuates switch 81 which advances thestepping switch one step. While the cam is being moved to its fullyextended position, it cooperatively engages cam follower 84 secured tothe support 86 on cam track 32, whereby the carriage 34 will be returnedto a start position.

The previously described operations diagrammatically shown in FIGURES17A, B and C are repeated whereby as many rows of stitches as desiredare applied to the undercollar assembly. The operation required to applysucceeding rows of stitches is identical.

Shown in FIGURE 18A is the position of the work supporting carriage 34after the last row of stitches has been applied by the sewing machine 51to the undercollar assembly. When the carriage reaches the positionshown, the cam 142 secured to the underside of the cam track 32,actuates switch 144 in the same manner and at the same stage ofoperation as described in FIGURE 17C. When switch 144 is actuated, itadvances the stepping switch housed in the control box 184 one stepwhereby a signal is transmitted to the sewing machine operatingmechanism causing the cessation of the sewing operation. When thisoccurs, the foot of the sewing machine opens and releases theundercollar assembly from operative engagement with the sewing machine.A signal is transmitted to the operating mechanism 118 which moves thework supporting carriage 34 in a direction away from the sewing machine51. Almost simultaneously, with the movement of carriage 34 away fromthe sewing machine, the cam 82 is being moved to a fully extendedposition from the cylinder 72, the operating means of which has receivedan actuating signal from the controls in box 184. The carriage 34 whilemoving away from the sewing machine as previously mentioned, causes cam194 to be rotated, whereby the actuating means for switch 106 enters thenext to last detent on the cam which causes the stepping switch toadvance one step. When the cam member 82 reaches its fully extendedposition, it actuates switch 81 which-causes a one step advancement ofthe stepping switch. The cam member 82. remains in its fully extendedposition, therebeing no further signal transmitted to cylinder 72. Thework supporting carriage operating mechanism 118 continues-moving thecarriage 34 in a direction awayfrom the sewing machine and toward theload-unload position. During the movement of the carriage 34, the camdisc-104 continues to be rotated. The actuating means for switch 106drops into the last detent on the cam disc when the carriage has reachedthe load-unload position. The switch 106 causes the stepping switch tobe advanced one step whereby a signal is transmitted to the carriageoperating mechanism 118 causing same to stop.

As shown in FIGURE 1813, the actuating means for switch 1th; has droppedinto the last detent on cam disc 1943, thus causing the steppingswitchhoused in the control box 184 to move to its last position. Also, theoperating mechanism 11$ has moved the work supporting carriage to theload-unload position and is stopped. A signal is transmitted to theclamp operating mechanism 132 which through clamp operating lever 56causes clamp 46 to open, releasing the undercollar assembly. Theinterlock switch 138 is actuated, which signals that the clamp 46 isopen and allows the eject plate operating mechanism 220 to pivot theeject plate to a substantially vertical position, whereby theundercollar assembly is The operation of the apparatus shown in FIGURES8v through 11 is substantially identical to that of the apparatus shownin FIGURES 1 through 7. The most notatable exception, of course, residesin the operating mechanism for the clamping members 154 and 156. Whenthe work supporting carriage 156 has been returned to the load-unloadposition, the rotatable shafts to which the clamping members 154 and 156are attached, enter rotatable sockets which are actuated by air cylindermeans and a rack and pinion arrangement which imparts a rotary motion tothe shafts to move the clamping plates to an open or closed position.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for sewing together a plurality of superimposed layersof workpiece material by means of a plurality of laterally spacedgenerally parallel independent lines of stitches having a predeterminedform comprising in combination: a sewing machineadapted to impartfeeding movement to the workpiece during application of a line ofstitches thereto; a base member adjacent and fixed relative to saidsewing machine, a support member movably carried by said base member;support member moving means adapted to move said suport member towardand away from said sewing machine in a direction transerse to thedirection of the feeding movement imparted by said sewing machine, aworkpiece supporting carriage movably carried by said support member,said carriage being movable from a load-unload position to a positionplacing the workpiece in operational engagement with said sewingmachine; a workpiece holding means carried by said carriage adapted tohold said layers of workpiece material in superimposed relation duringapplication of the lines of stitches thereto; a cam track member carriedby said workpiece supporting carriage and fixed relative thereto; saidcam track having a configuration corresponding to the form of the linesof stitches and extending in a direction corresponding to the directionin which 10 the lines of stitches are to extend; cam track memberengaging means carried by said support member movably engaging said camtrack member so as to limit the movement of said workpiece supportingcarriage relative to said support member to a path determined by theconfiguration of said cam track member; cooperating cam and cam followermeans carried by said carriage and said base member, said cooperatingcam and follower means being in operative engagement when said carriageis in said load-unload position and adapted to effect movement of saidcarriage relative to said support member in a direction generallycorresponding to the direction of the feeding movement imparted by saidsewing machine in response to movement of said support member towardsaid sewing machine to thereby place said workpiece in operationalengagement with said sewing machine for the application of a first lineof stitches; means operatively responsive to the positioning of saidworkpiece in operative engagement with said sewing machine to stopmovement of said support member relative to said sewing machine'andetfect actuation of said sewing machine to impart feeding movementof said workpiece and apply a line of stitches thereto, the feedingmovement imparted to said workpiece effecting movement of said carriagerelative to said support member whereby the path of movement of saidworkpiece relative to said sewing machine will be determined by saidconfiguration of said cam track member to thereby provide a line ofstitches having a form correspondin to said configuration of said camtrack member; means operatively responsive to the position of saidcarriage upon the completion of a line of stitches to successivelyeffect release of the workpiece from the sewing machine and actuate saidsupport moving means so as to move said support member relative to saidsewing machine a distance corresponding to the lateral spacing betweenadjacent lines of stitches; cam follower means secured to said carriage;a reciprocable cam member cooperating with said cam follower means tomove said carriage relative to said support member to thereby place saidworkpiece in said operational engagement with said sewing machine forthe application of a succeeding line of stitches; means operativelyresponsive to the position of said carriage upon the completion of thelast of the plurality of said lines of stitches operative to effect therelease of said workpiece from said sewing machine and to actuate saidsupport moving means and said reciprocable cam member whereby upon thecompletion of the application of the last line of the stitches to saidworkpiece, said workpiece will be released from said sewing machine andsaid carriage will be returned to said load-unload position.

2. The structure defined in claim 1 wherein the workpiece holding meansincludes a clamping member movably carried by the carriage so as to bemovable into and out of clamping engagement with the layers of workpiecematerial. f

3. The structure defined in claim 2 which includes means operativelyresponsive to the return of the carriage to the load-unload positionupon completion of the application of the last line of stitches toeffect movement of the clamping member out of clamping engagement withthe layers of workpiece material.

4. The structure defined in claim 3 which includes a workpiece ejectingmeans adjacent the carriage in the load-unload position adapted toremove the layers of workpiece material from operative association withthe workpiece holding means when said clamping member is moved out ofclamping engagement with the layers of workpiece material.

5. An apparatus for padding undercollars by means of a plurality oflaterally spaced independent lines of stitches having a predeterminedform including a sewing machine adapted to impart feeding movement tothe work during application of a line of stitches thereto, a baseadjacent said sewing machine, a support mounted on said base, a

work supporting carriage on said support and movable with respectthereto, a work holding means carried by said carriage adapted to holdsaid work during application of the line of stitches thereto, meansmoving said support and said carriage adjacent said sewing machine to aposition placing the Work in operational engagement with said sewingmachine, said carriage being movable with respect to said sewing machineduring a plurality of sewing operations in a path corresponding to thepredetermined form of the line of stitches being applied, said supportbeing movable toward and away from said sewing machine in a directiontransverse to the direction of feeding movement imparted by said sewingmachine, a cam follower secured to said carriage, a reciprocable camcooperating with said cam follower positively returning said worksupporting carriage to a starting position after each of said sewingoperations, means operatively responsive to the position of saidcarriage upon the completion of a line of stitches to effect actuationof said support and said carriage moving means so that said work ispositioned in operational engagement with said sewing machine for theapplication of a succeeding line of stitches laterally spaced from thepreceding line of stitches and means ejecting the work when said sewingoperations have been completed.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS AllenOct. 23, 1917 Winkley Apr. 11, 1922 Mayo Sept. 24, 1929 Kleber Apr. 1,1947 Lange Nov. 6, 1951 Myska Aug. 18, 1959 McGill et a1. June 20, 1961Bond et a1. Sept. 26, 1961 Herr Nov. 14, 1961 Lockwood June 5, 1962 RoseJuly 3, 1962 Kelemencky Sept. 11, 1962 Klaning et a1. Nov. 6, 1962Miliigan et a1 Jan. 8, 1963 Reeber et a1. Jan. 15, 1963 Ha 'es et alApr. 9, 1963 Herr et a1. May 14, 1963 Reid et a1. July 16, 1963 FOREIGNPATENTS France July 25, 1960 Great Britain Sept. 7, 1960

5. AN APPARATUS FOR PADDING UNDERCOLLARS BY MEANS OF A PLURALITY OFLATERALLY SPACED INDEPENDENT LINES OF STITCHES HAVING A PREDETERMINEDFORM INCLUDING A SEWING MACHINE ADAPTED TO IMPART FEEDING MOVEMENT TOTHE WORK DURING APPLICATION OF A LINE OF STITCHES THERETO, A BASEADJACENT SAID SEWING MACHINE, A SUPPORT MOUNTED ON SAID BASE, A WORKSUPPORTING CARRIAGE ON SAID SUPPORT AND MOVABLE WITH RESPECT THERETO, AWORK HOLDING MEANS CARRIED BY SAID CARRIAGE ADAPTED TO HOLD SAID WORKDURING APPLICATION OF THE LINE OF STITCHES THERETO, MEANS MOVING SAIDSUPPORT AND SAID CARRIAGE ADJACENT SAID SEWING MACHINE TO A POSITIONPLACING THE WORK IN OPERATIONAL ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID SEWING MACHINE,SAID CARRIAGE BEING MOVABLE WITH RESPECT TO SAID SEWING MACHINE DURING APLURALITY OF SEWING OPERATIONS IN A PATH CORRESPONDING TO THEPREDETERMINED FORM OF THE LINE OF STITCHES BEING APPLIED, SAID SUPPORTBEING MOVABLE TOWARD AND AWAY FROM SAID SEWING MACHINE IN A DIRECTIONTRANSVERSE TO THE DIRECTION OF FEEDING MOVEMENT IMPARTED BY SAID SEWINGMACHINE, A CAM FOLLOWER SECURED TO SAID CARRIAGE, A RECIPROCABLE CAMCOOPERATING WITH SAID CAM FOLLOWER POSITIVELY RETURNING SAID WORKSUPPORTING CARRIAGE TO A STARTING POSITION AFTER EACH OF SAID SEWINGOPERATIONS, MEANS OPERATIVELY RESPONSIVE TO THE POSITION OF SAIDCARRIAGE UPON THE COMPLETION OF A LINE OF STITCHES TO EFFECT ACTUATIONOF SAID SUPPORT AND SAID CARRIAGE MOVING MEANS SO THAT SAID WORK ISPOSITIONED IN OPERATIONAL ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID SEWING MACHINE FOR THEAPPLICATION OF A SUCCEEDING LINE OF STITCHES LATERALLY SPACED FROM THEPRECEDING LINE OF STITCHES AND MEANS EJECTING THE WORK WHEN SAID SEWINGOPERATIONS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED.